DEVELOPMENT ON THE APRILIA RS-GP MACHINES CONTINUES

TWO DAYS OF TESTS AT MONTMELÒ FOR ESPARGARÓ AND LOWES

Just hours after the chequered flag at Le Mans, the Aprilia RS-GP machines were on the track again for two days of testing on the Catalan Montmelò circuit. This is a preparatory session for the race that will be held right here on the track a few miles from Barcelona on the second weekend of June.

The Aprilia Racing Team Gresini riders, Espargaró and Lowes, are moving forward with development of the 2017 RS-GP which has proven to be quickly improving and capable of rising to the occasion for Aleix in France in one of the best comeback rides of the season. After starting from the eighteenth spot on the grid, the Spanish rider gained enough positions to battle for seventh until a technical problem halted him. It was an episode that had never before happened with the RS-GP which, however, does not cancel out the progress demonstrated in the first five races of the season.

In the Barcelona tests, Aprilia took a more efficient evolution of the seamless gearbox on its maiden run. Work was done on the electronics, especially to improve performance with a new tyre, whereas Aleix tested the front downforce fairing that his teammate Lowes had already used in a race.

Over the two days, Espargaró turned 83 laps (best lap 1'44.852). 1'46.298 was the best lap of the 119 total laps for Sam Lowes who is fresh from earning his first MotoGP championship points in Le Mans.

ALEIX ESPARGARO' “These were two important days of testing since we will be here racing in two weeks. At the beginning I struggled a bit to adapt to the new layout, but overall we did a good job on the RS-GP. We began with some difficulty braking, but on the second day we managed to improve a lot. I felt good. We lapped at good times, especially dialling in the electronics. I can't wait to come back here for the race.”

SAM LOWES "The last two days were "real" testing for me, we tried many things on the bike to try find a good direction and continue the development. We are happy with the results, we never used a soft tyre to push for lap time and managed to improve our constant pace even testing many things. I am positively looking forward to Mugello, our home race and one of my favourite circuits".